Now that the nonconference season has concluded, Russellville's basketball teams are ready to start the gauntlet known as the 7A-Central conference schedule when they welcome Little Rock Central to RHS Cyclone Gymnasium for both school's conference openers.

The Cyclones (3-8, 0-0 7A-Central) get their first taste of the Little Rock Central Tigers (6-7, 0-0) at 7:30 p.m. and look to open the conference slate on the right foot. But Cyclones' head coach Joe Sitkowski knows it will be a challenge.

"They're very athletic," Sitkowski said. "They've got the Harris kid back, one of the top recruits in the state. He's about 6-foot-6, very athletic and can shoot the three. He's the first one you have to stop on their team. They'll play a full-court man (defense) on us. That's what they hurt us with here last year. We've just got to slow it down, take good shots and make sure we get back on defense."

Stopping Harris is the biggest job for the Cyclones' defense, but the coach said his team needs to be very selective on their shots and not get into a rush that can lead to fast-break points for the Tigers.

"We need to work the ball around, make that extra pass," Sitkowski added. "Looking at film from last year of the game here, the first quarter we took six shots off the first pass and missed all six. We've got to be a little more patient on offense and make them have to play a little longer on defense. We can't give up any easy baskets in transition."

The Lady Cyclones (8-5, 0-0) will have their hands full with the Lady Tigers (6-6, 0-0) as well. RHS head coach Steve Wiedower said Central is much better than their record might indicate.

"They're a very good team. I've watched them once. I think they're probably a top four team in conference."

After spending the majority of their nonconference schedule on the road, the Lady Cyclones are happy to prepare to play at Cyclone Gym.

"This will be our first game at home since the tournament, so we ought to be proud to be playing at home - we haven't got to do that a whole lot," the first-year coach said. "We've got to take care of the basketball, they put a lot of pressure on you. They're not very big, but they're very quick and athletic. They keep a lot of pressure on the ball. We have to take advantage of scoring opportunities we get."

Wiedower indicated the Lady Cyclones will need to use their size advantage if they want to end the night with a win.

"We're taller than them, but they make up for their size disadvantage because of their athleticism," he said. "They jump really well. We will have a size advantage, so of course we'll have to take advantage of that if we can."